If you sit across from patients all week, you learn that frown lines mean different things to different faces. Some people barely crease when they concentrate. Others carve deep vertical “11s” between the eyebrows every time they read an email or squint in the sun. Asking how many units of Botox for frown lines is a fair question, yet the honest answer is a range shaped by anatomy, muscle strength, and the result you want to see in the mirror. The right plan keeps your brow expressive while softening the lines that make you look worried or tired.
I’ll explain how clinicians decide on dose, the typical ranges for mild to moderate glabellar lines, how the units translate into results, and the small variables that matter more than most people realize. I’ll also cover how this area interacts with the rest of the upper face, what to expect from your first appointment, and how to think about cost, maintenance, and alternatives.
First, what “units” actually mean
A unit of Botox is a standardized measure of biologic activity for onabotulinumtoxinA, not a volume on the syringe. We reconstitute a vial with sterile saline, so the same number of units can be delivered in different volumes, depending on injector preference. Don’t worry if you hear “0.1 mL per injection point” from one provider and “0.05 mL” from another. The units per point are what count, not the liquid volume.
Different brands use their own unit scales. Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau are not one-to-one interchangeable. Most clinics treat 1 unit of Botox roughly like 1 unit of Xeomin or Jeuveau, while Dysport often requires more numerical units to get an equivalent effect. When I quote ranges below, I’m referring to Botox Cosmetic units.
What exactly are frown lines?
Frown lines, or glabellar lines, sit between the eyebrows and form when the corrugator supercilii, procerus, and depressor supercilii muscles contract. These muscles pull the brows together and down. People use them when they focus, read, squint, or emote frustration. With time, the repetitive folding etches fine lines that can become fixed, even at rest.
The goal of botox injections in this area is to relax those specific muscles just enough to soften or erase the lines, while preserving natural brow movement. Go too light and the lines barely change. Go too heavy or in the wrong spots and the brows can look heavy or expressionless, or the outer brow can compensate by lifting too much. Precision of placement matters as much as the total units.
Typical dosing ranges for the glabella
For adults seeking botox for frown lines, the FDA‑approved on-label dose for Botox Cosmetic is 20 units divided into five injection points across the glabella. That’s a good anchor, but it is not a ceiling or a perfect fit for every face. In real practice, I choose a number within a range based on muscle mass, sex, baseline line depth, and how much movement you want to keep.
For mild glabellar lines at rest, many patients do well with 12 to 18 units. For moderate glabellar lines at rest, 20 to 28 units is common. For strong, heavy brows or deeper etched “11s,” 30 to 40 units may be needed to fully relax the area, especially Burlington area botox providers in men with thicker corrugators.
If you mostly see lines only when actively frowning and want a subtle, still-expressive result, baby botox dosing of 8 to 12 units can be enough. That said, baby botox trades longevity for subtlety. Expect shorter duration and a higher chance of needing a touch up sooner.
I regularly adjust within a session. If I see asymmetry in how the brows pull, I’ll place 2 to 4 extra units on the stronger side. And if a patient historically brow-lifts to compensate for heavy lids, I’ll stay conservative and rely on a staged approach.
How injectors decide within that range
Two people can need different units even if their lines look similar in a photo. The difference lives in the hands that palpate and the eyes that watch muscle pull at rest and in motion. Here’s what typically guides me when planning botox treatment for the glabella.
Facial anatomy and muscle bulk set the baseline. Thicker corrugators and a strong procerus require more units to overcome baseline tone. Men usually need more units than women in this area, not as a rule but as a trend.
At-rest lines signal how much collagen has been etched away. If you see vertical grooves without actively frowning, I plan for the higher end of “moderate,” sometimes paired with skin quality treatments like microneedling or a light filler microdroplet later if the crease is stubborn.
Eye and brow position change the safety margins. A low-set brow or hooded lids push me toward conservative dosing to avoid a heavy look. In these cases, precision placement laterally and respecting the frontalis relationship becomes critical.
Patient preference matters. Some people want near-zero movement between the brows. Others care more about natural looking botox with a hint of motion. I document this and titrate over the first two to three visits to land on their sweet spot.
Metabolism and activity level play a smaller role, but I see patterns. Very active patients sometimes metabolize botox a touch faster. That usually affects how often to get botox rather than the initial dose, but it informs the plan.
Breaking down the five core injection points
You’ll often see five tiny marks across the frown complex. Think of one spot in the midline procerus and two on each side into the corrugators. Units are divided across those points. In a classic 20‑unit plan, it’s commonly 4 units per point. If we use 16 units for a subtle plan, that becomes 3 to 4 units at each point, with a bias to the strongest pull you show during active frowning.
Placement depth varies slightly. The procerus sits more superficially than the corrugators that run obliquely. Gentle aspiration before injection, a small volume, and staying within safe boundaries around the orbital rim reduce the risk of diffusion where we don’t want it.
Mild versus moderate: what the numbers feel like on your face
Let’s translate units into visible results.
A mild plan, say 12 to 16 units, softens the central scowl without freezing it. You’ll still be able to knit your brows, just less strongly, and the vertical lines will barely show when you do. At rest, the “11s” fade or disappear if they were faint to begin with.
A moderate plan, say 20 to 28 units, typically silences the scowl. For most patients, the lines vanish at rest and are greatly reduced in expression. You still look like you, just calmer. Videos shot in bright light show the difference best. I encourage patients to take before and after clips frowning and then relax the brow to appreciate the change.
If lines remain etched after a good dose, the muscle is quiet, but the dermal crease needs time to remodel. That’s when we consider supportive steps like retinoids, sunscreen, or even a tiny microdroplet of filler placed superficially after a few weeks if needed. Not every crease needs filler. Often, two or three cycles of consistent botox let the skin recover on its own.
How soon does it work and how long does it last?
Most people start to feel the muscles softening in 2 to 4 days. The full effect settles by day 10 to 14. I schedule a follow‑up or at least a check‑in around the two‑week mark for first time botox patients. If we need a small adjustment, a conservative touch up of 2 to 6 units can even out asymmetry or add a little strength if a line persists.
Duration averages three to four months in the glabella. Some stretch to five or six months after they’ve maintained results over a few cycles. Heavier frowners and those on baby botox dosing often notice wear-off sooner, closer to 8 to 10 weeks. Maintenance timing matters more than any single appointment. If you prefer consistently smooth results, plan regular botox appointments before full movement returns.
Safety, placement, and avoiding side effects
Botox cosmetic treatment is well established and, when performed by an experienced injector, has a strong safety profile. The most common issues are minor: a pinprick bruise, a small bump that fades as the saline disperses, or a brief headache. The less common, but well known, risk in the glabella is brow or lid heaviness if product diffuses or is placed too low in someone with borderline brow position. This is preventable in most cases with careful technique and dosing appropriate to anatomy.
A few practical steps make a difference. Skip blood thinners you can safely avoid, like high-dose fish oil or unnecessary NSAIDs, for several days before treatment. Keep your head upright for a few hours after injections and avoid rubbing the area. Light walking is fine, but delay strenuous workouts that flood the face with blood flow for the rest of the day. Good aftercare isn’t complicated, it’s mostly about letting the product settle where it was placed.
If you ever experience a heavy eyelid or uneven brow after treatment, tell your clinic promptly. Early evaluation helps. Often, the issue is mild and fades as the botox begins to wear. Occasionally, a small counterbalancing dose in the frontalis or a tiny drop of apraclonidine eye drops for a short period can help symptoms while you wait.
Cost, units, and value over time
Clinics price botox by the unit or by the area. Nationally, per‑unit pricing often lands between 10 and 20 dollars, depending on geography and the injector’s experience. A mild glabella plan of 12 to 16 units might total in the low to mid hundreds, while a moderate plan of 20 to 28 units will cost more, reflecting the additional product. An area price, if offered, typically assumes the on‑label 20 units.
Affordability matters, and so does the value of a precise, natural result. The best botox clinic for you should prioritize safety, facial mapping, and a personalized botox plan over blanket dosing. The cheapest botox deals can be tempting. Ask about the product brand, dilution practices, and the injector’s credentials. Saving a small amount upfront is not worth a heavy brow or an unnatural look that lingers for months.
Many practices offer botox membership plans or package deals that lower the per‑unit cost in exchange for regular visits. If you know you like your results and want consistent maintenance, those can make sense. If you are still learning what you prefer, pay per session until you’ve dialed in your plan.
The glabella doesn’t live alone: coordinating with the forehead and crow’s feet
If you only relax the frown complex in a strong frowner, the frontalis may overcompensate and lift the inner brow a touch. Some patients love the slight brightening. Others notice a peaked brow that looks animated. This is where balancing botox for frown lines with conservative botox for forehead lines, or a light touch at the tail of the brow, can create a smoother, more harmonious upper face.
Botox for crow’s feet often pairs nicely with glabellar treatment as well, not because the muscles interact directly, but because the eye area reads as a single expression zone. A small correction around the lateral canthus smooths the smile lines at the edge of the eye without erasing warmth.
When we plan the upper face as a whole, dosing can be more efficient. For example, reducing a strong central scowl sometimes means you can go lighter on the forehead and still achieve a non surgical brow lift effect, minimizing the risk of a flat or heavy look.
Baby botox, preventative botox, and first‑time nerves
Under 30 and seeing faint “11s” when you squint? Preventative botox with baby dosing makes sense if you animate strongly and want to keep lines from etching. This is the group that often does well with 8 to 12 units and accepts that results last a little less. The advantage is ultra natural movement and no big swings between visits.
First time botox can be surprisingly anticlimactic in the best way. The needles are tiny, the injections take minutes, and downtime is minimal. I ask patients to hold heavy workouts for the rest of the day, keep alcohol to a minimum that evening, and skip facial massages for 24 hours. Makeup can go on after a few hours if the skin looks calm. Most return to work immediately.
If you feel reassured by data, take a quick “botox before and after” set of photos or short videos in consistent light. Frown, relax, smile. Re‑record two weeks later. The changes are clearer on video than in the filter-heavy world of social media.
What botox can’t do for frown lines
It does not fill a deep dermal groove. It reduces the muscle’s ability to create and deepen that groove. If your lines are very etched, we may add skin-directed treatments. A tiny, superficial filler pass can support the crease once the muscle is quiet. Devices like microneedling or lasers help long term texture and collagen. Daily sunscreen keeps victories from eroding.
It also cannot lift a heavy brow in someone with low baseline brow position if we fully freeze the frown complex without balancing the forehead. That is where planning the forehead and sometimes a subtle botox brow lift at the tail helps maintain openness in the eyes.
And it doesn’t replace fillers for volume loss. If the midface is flat or the temples hollow, a strained expression can persist even with a smooth glabella. Botox and fillers tackle different problems. Think of botox for wrinkles caused by movement, and fillers for deflation or shadows.
Choosing the right injector and asking the right questions
Experience with anatomy and a track record of natural looking botox matter more than a glamorous Instagram grid. During your botox consultation, ask how they dose the glabella for different muscle strengths, what they do to avoid brow heaviness, and how they handle touch ups. A clinician who listens to your preferences, examines how your brow moves dynamically, and documents your plan for the next visit is more likely to deliver the result you want.
If you search “botox near me for wrinkles,” refine your shortlist with actual patient reviews that mention subtle botox results and consistent outcomes. Look for before and afters with video when possible. The best botox doctor for you is the one who can explain trade‑offs clearly and makes you feel heard.
Practical expectations: appointment flow and aftercare
A typical botox appointment for frown lines takes about 10 minutes of injections after consultation and mapping. Makeup comes off the treatment area, the skin is cleaned, and dots may be drawn for guidance. The injections feel like quick pinches. Some patients prefer ice for a minute; most don’t need numbing.
Aftercare is simple: avoid lying down flat for 3 to 4 hours, skip intense exercise until tomorrow, do not rub or massage the area that day, and keep alcohol to a minimum the first evening. If you must work out, choose light walking. If a tiny bruise appears, a dab of concealer the next day usually hides it.
Two weeks later, assess. If your brow movement feels perfect and lines are quiet, schedule your next visit for three to four months out. If you want a touch stronger effect or see asymmetry, a small botox touch up is straightforward.
Unit ranges across the upper face for context
People frequently ask in the same breath about botox for forehead lines and botox for crow’s feet. While this article is focused on the glabella, here are broad ranges many practices use to help you contextualize your plan.
Forehead lines, depending on height of the forehead and strength of lift, often take 6 to 14 units. We keep doses conservative to avoid brow drop, especially if the glabella is strongly treated. Crow’s feet typically range from 6 to 12 units per side, adjusted for smile strength and eye shape. A lip flip botox plan is much lighter, usually 4 to 8 units total at the border. These numbers help you sanity‑check quotes and understand how the glabella fits into a whole‑face approach.
When alternatives make sense
A fraction of patients seeking botox for frown lines actually need help with tension rather than wrinkles. If you carry your stress in your jaw with clenching or headaches, consider discussing masseter botox or migraines botox treatment with your provider. Treating the root muscle tension sometimes eases the urge to scowl and complements a lighter glabella plan.
If sweating is a bigger concern than lines, hyperhidrosis botox treatment for underarms offers months of relief. These therapeutic botox uses differ from cosmetic dosing, but they demonstrate the versatility of the medicine.
Building a personalized botox plan
Think Burlington botox about your goals, your calendar, and your tolerance for movement. If you want a consistently calm brow year‑round, plan on three to four visits per year. If you love expressive movement and only want smoothing before events or photos, time your appointment two weeks in advance and accept that you’ll let it fully wear off before the next round.
Some patients prefer micro botox or baby botox for a breathable look, especially across the upper face. Others want a turnkey softening of frown lines with no scowl. Neither is right or wrong. The sweet spot is the result that matches your personality and daily life.
Here is a concise checklist you can use with your injector to structure the conversation:
- Show your natural frown, your relaxed brow, and your full smile so the injector can map movement patterns. Share whether you prefer subtle motion or a stronger, longer‑lasting smoothness between the brows. Ask about the unit plan for your glabella and how it coordinates with the forehead to avoid heaviness. Confirm aftercare and the timeline for a two‑week check‑in or touch up if needed. Discuss maintenance timing and how many visits per year will keep your results steady.
Bottom line on units for mild to moderate frown lines
For most adults, the answer lives here: 12 to 18 units of Botox for mild frown lines and 20 to 28 units for moderate frown lines deliver natural, effective softening. Stronger muscles or etched lines can require 30 to 40 units, especially in thicker brows. Baby botox in the 8 to 12 unit range suits those who want subtlety and accept shorter duration.
What matters most is not chasing a single number, but matching dose to your anatomy, your expression habits, and your preferences. A good injector will show you how your corrugators and procerus behave, explain trade‑offs, and build a customized botox treatment that fits your face. That is how you smooth the “11s” without losing yourself.